By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch A bill authored by south Pierce County's newest state legislator has been signed into law, giving a potential source of customers to businesses owned by military veterans. Rep. Graham Hunt's House Bill 2744, which the Legislature passed during its 2014 session that ended last month, creates a certified list of veteran-owned businesses in Washington. The intent is to help consumers find and patronize such businesses if that's their preference. Governor Jay Inslee signed the legislation last week, making it official GÇô effective June 11 GÇô that the state Department of Veterans Affairs will maintain a list of veterans' businesses that are operating, incorporated and located in Washington. More than 850 such businesses are currently certified by the agency. Hunt, a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, runs Hunt Family Insurance. If a business is solely or majority-owned by a veteran, and based and incorporated in Washington, "then it qualifies to be a certified veteran-owned business so that the communities that want to support veteran-owned businesses have that opportunity,GÇ¥ Hunt said. "It even provides these businesses a decal they can post in their storefront so they can be quickly identified by consumers as veteran-owned.GÇ¥ In addition, the bill encourages state agencies to award 3 percent of all procurement contracts exempt from competitive bidding to veteran-owned businesses. "Our veterans have sacrificed and paid a high price so that our nation is secure and our citizens are free. This is a small but important step to show our appreciation by encouraging citizens to shop in their stores and use their services, and help those businesses grow and succeed,GÇ¥ Hunt said. Hunt, a Republican from Orting, was appointed in January to represent the Second District, which includes Graham, Eatonville and other areas of Pierce and Thurston counties. He replaced Gary Alexander, who resigned who resigned after failing to win election last fall as Thurston County auditor. Hunt was appointed jointly by the Pierce County Council and the Thurston County Commissioners from among three candidates nominated by the Republican Party, which had nominating authority because Alexander is a Republican.
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